Apparatus for sorting articles



Feb. 20, 1945. R, H. PHINNEY ET AL 2,369,794-

APPARATUS FOR SORTING ARTICLES Filed June 11, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR') Haber? Harr/s Phi/way BY. li orv/lv Perry 4 3 m ri ATTORN Y5 1945- R. H. PHINNEY ET AL APPARATUS FOR SORTING ARTICLES Filed June 11, 1941 9 Sheet .s-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Roberf flaw-r13 P/l/Mvey BY flarvuv Perry MM :9 MI

A'ITORNE Feb. 20, 1945. R. H. PHINNEY ET AL 2,359,794

APPARATUS FOR SORTING ARTICLES Filed June 11, 194,1 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Haber-f Harv-1.; fli/wle y n H 35 23 m $33 3 INVENTORS BY Now/a l'brry A'I'I'OR E Feb. 20, 1945. v R. H. PHINNEY ET AL 2,369,794

APPARATUS FOR SORTING ARTICLES Filed June 11, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS fioberf Mir: flu/me y BY )Vorvnv Perry A'ITORIQQVM PHJNNEY'ETAL Awm-K TH S FOR ISQREIING AREIIHGLES iSheefics-Sheet 5 Filed June 11 3941 VENTURE) A V 5E5 1765- 1945- R. H. PHINNEY ET AL APPARATUS FOR SQRTING ARTICLES 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jux le 11, 1941 INVENTOR5 Hoberf Harms Phuv/vey a H m n A Y B Feb. 20, 1945.

R. H. PHINNEY ET AL 2,369,794 1 APPARATUS FOR SQRTING ARTICLES Filed June 11, 1941 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 BY Nora/17v Perry ATTORNE S Patented Feb} 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 7 2,369,794 APPARATUS non son'rmc Aa'ncms Robert Harris Phinney, New York, N. Y., and Norvin Perry, Stamford, Conn.; said Perry as signor to said Phinney I Application June 11, 1941, Serial No. 397,598 v 6 Claims. (01. @09-111) This invention relates to a machine for sortin articles and more specifically toa machine for sorting differently marked but otherwise similar articles.

In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a. device of the character described, which will efficiently perform the purposes for which it is intended, which is simple and economical ofconstruction, which can be expeditiously, conveniently and safely manipulated, and which can be readily manufactured and assembled.

Another object of the invention isto provide a machine which successively separates single articles from a pile of such articles and presents them to a photoelectric apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine which aligns variously sized articles, having predeterminedly positioned indicia thereon, so that predetermined points of said indicia on successive articles are in registry with certain reference points and so that .they'may be mechanically I 7 sorted into groups in accordance with the marking and independently of, their size and independently of their generalshape.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for automatically sorting checks or similar appearing articles into groups having to do with some related factor such as the banks on which 'the checks are drawn.

- and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

' which: 1

1 Fig. 1 is a plan viewof the sorting table of a machine embodying'one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1; v

- Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the front portion of the right-hand end of the machine shown in Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of oneofthe article-bending m shown in Fig, 1, 3 sitioned over the magazine;

u; czasiu showninFig.4,invepositionsinele- I; vatiom.

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation andpartly in section' of the means not shown inFig. 1 for removing the top separated article from the remainder of the articles in the magazine, together with certain parts of themachine shown in Fig. 1, as seen from the right side in Fig.1; 1

Fig. 9 is a, vertical cross-section, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a viewin elevation of a detail of the mechanism shown in'Fig. 8, as seen from the opposite side;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the article-orienting mechanism which is principally positioned below the table of the machine and shown in part in the lower right-hand corner of Fig. 1;

Figs.- 12 and 13 are views in elevation; partially in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig.11 and taken along the lines l2l2 and l3-I3 respectively; I v

Figs. 14 and 15 are views in elevation, partly in section, of a scanning unit which may be em- Dloyed as a part of the machine shown in Fig. 1 v

and positioned above the} plane of the table of that machine and in the lower right-hand corner thereof as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view in elevation of a H portion of the'gates and receptacles of the machines shown in and taken along the line l6l 6 ofFiS. 1;

Fig. 171s a view in elevation partly. in section of the mechanism in and taken along the lines ll-l'l of Fig. 16; I

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the magazine shown attherearof Fig. 1:

Fig. 19.is a view in section, taken" along the line l9ll'oiFig.18; a a

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic representation of an electrical system of connections for use with the machine shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 21 and 22 are portions of checks adap to be used in connection with the invention.

Many articles are sorted by hand at a considerable expenditure of labor. The sorting requires a certain mental effort to diflerentiate between the intelligence-conveying indicia on the successive articles. Thus employees are hired by large banks for the sole purpose of sorting checks.

Banks must forward deposited checks to the severa] Federal'reserve districts of the paying banks.

Clearing houses must separate checks and send 7 them to theirmember banks. In the course of these events certain checks are missent withattendant delays.

' The present invention contemplates amachine which automaticallraccomplished separations of the above-mentioned type. It works at high speed and is not subject to the drawbacks that are present with hand labor.

The machine described below functions to separate checks or other articles into predetermined groups which are indicated by indicia placed on the checks. It separates, for example, a plurality of checks into separate groups, each group corresponding to some bank upon which one or more of the checks is drawn. During a day's business a bank receives various checks which are deposited and each of which must be forwarded by the close of the business day to some other bank. This requires sorting of the checks. In Fig. 21 there is shown a check with indicia. thereon in the shape of small, dark circular areas. The arrangement of those areas is peculiar to a single predetermined bank on which the check was drawn. Under the system of this invention each bank issues its checks to its depositors, and its checks all have the particular arrangement of indicia thereon which indicates it as the paying bank and diiferentiates it from all other banks. There is no chance that any check from any particular bank can possibly be different from any other check of that particular bank because the indicia on each such check are printed or otherwise applied to the check from a single plate or die which plate or die is used in preparing every other check of that bank. This plate or die may or may not be a part of the plate or die which prints the entire check.

The little circular areas, which may be called dots, are at one end of the check, although any general area may be selected. Preferably, the dots are arranged in rows parallel to the length of the check, although this arrangement, too, may be modified. In the example shown there are positions for four dots in each row, and there are positions for seventeen rows. Not each row shows a dot in the example chosen, nor is it necessary to. The positions of the dots along the rows are aligned so that, for example, all dots in the first position in the various rows determine a line perpendicular to the top and bottom edge of the check, etc.

Each row corresponds to a numeral. I'hat numeral may be from 0 to 9, depending upon the positions'of the dots. In the example shown in Fig. 21, the first two rows, marked respectively a and b on the drawings, may be considered as indicating the number of the state in which the paying bank is located. The forty-eight states and District of Columbia have been assigned numbers from 50 up to 99 by banking authorities. Higher numbers may be assigned to territories, foreign states, etc. Rows 3 and 4, marked 0 and d on the drawings, from the top of the check are assigned to the Federal reserve banks or districts of which there are now 12. Dots in row 'correspond to districts 1 to 9. Dots in rows 3 and 4 correspond to districts 10 to 12. Row 5, marked 2 on the drawings, provides for the designating of a particular branch of any one of the twelve Federal reserve banks because some of the Federal reserve banks have branches. This now will take care of as many as nine branch banks. When the paying bank is under the immediate jurisdiction of the head ofllce of its Federal reserve bank there is no dot in this row. Banking authorities have given the numbers from one to forty-nine to the forty-nine principal cities in the country respectively. Rows 6 and 7, marked f and g on the drawings, are devoted to indicating the number of the principal city in which the paying bank is located. Each bank having been given its own number in its state or its principal city, such bank number is designated by the dots in rows 8, 9, 10 and 11, marked h, i, j, k on the drawings, or as many of such rows as are necessary. Since there are four rows assigned to this purpose, the number may be as high as 9,999. Rows l2 and 13 are provided to indicate the sub-branches of any particular'bank, if desired so to do, as in the case of the example shown below. Other rows may be assigned to indicate other subject matter. In this way, under this invention, every check drawn on any one bank has the same set of indicia as every other check drawn on that bank, and different from the indicia on any check drawn on any other bank. The indicia on the check show and correspond to: (1) the state in which the bank is located, (2) the Federal reserve bank district in which it is, (3) the head office or branch office of that district, under the jurisdiction of which head or branch the bank may come, (4) the principal city in which the bank is located, (5) its own bank number in its state or in the principal city in which the bank is to be found, and (6) its own branch number, if it is a branch of a large bank.

The areas in each row occupied by the dots or other marks have fixed relative positions. The rows have a flxed relative position to each other and one of the areas of rows has a fixed position relative to some cognizable portion of the check. That one particular area or row is fixed in that all checks using the machine have an area or row similarly placed. Exempli gratia, the top row may be at predetermined distance from and parallelto the top edge of the check and the position of the last indicium to the right in the top row may be at a predetermined distance from the right-hand edge of the check and the row may be perpendicular to the latter edge. If the righthand top corners and top edges of checks so marked are all similarly oriented with respect to a scanner, the latter is properly motivated in accordance with the indicia independently of the shape of the remainder of the check. A difference in shape refers herein not only to a difierence in design of contour-but also to a difierence in size as between two similar contours.

There are various ways in which deposited checks may be sorted so that they may be returned to the respective banks on which they are drawn. (1) They ma be sorted by the bank of deposit and sent directly by it to the Federal reserve bank or branch of which the paying bank is a member, or (2) they may be sent by the bank of deposit to its Federal reserve bank or branch and the latter may do the sorting sending the checks to the paying bank or its Federal reserve bank or branch. Furthermore, whatever ofllce sorts the checks, there are various successions of sorting into sets which may be followed-depending upon the convenience and practice of the sorting bank. For example, the sorting bank may (1) sortthe checks into states (i. e., states in which the paying banks are located) and then send the 48 groups to the proper Federal reserve bank or branch or may (2) merely sort them into groups of the twelve Federal reserve districts and then, if desired, resort each group to go to the proper head ofllce or branch bank in its Federal reserve district or may (3) sort them into groups of the 49 principal cities and then sort the remainder in states of Federal district and finally into groups of head ofllces and branches if desired.

Under the system heretofore used, reference had to be madeconstantly, in sorting checks, to reference lists to find out in which Federal reserve located. By this invention all such reference to lists, hand sorting, etc., is eliminated because all the necessary information is right on the check as shown by the indicia thereon.

Suppose that the check shown in Fig. 21 is deposited in a Massachusetts bank, and is a check district any one of thousands of paying banks was,

drawn on Branch No. '14 of. the X bank in New York city. The "x': bank has some number assigned to it by banking authorities, for example 33. The bank in Massachusetts forwards, say, the check to its Federal reserve bank which is in-Boston. The latter assemblies this check with others groups. In this way all of the checks having a given state number are assembled together separate fromthe other checks. Thereafter, the Federal reserve bank of Boston may make such further sortings in sub-groups as is in accordance with the accepted practices.

similarly received and may use the machine de-' scribed below to separate them into groups corresponding to the other eleven Federal reserve districts. The position of the dot in row 4d in the drawings assures that this check falls into group comprising the second district checks.

The Federal reserve bank of Boston then sorts again the checks for the second Federal reserve district into two groups, one of which goes to the head office in New York city and the other of which goes to the branch ofiice (Buflalo). The checkin Fig. 21 has no dot in the fifth row e in the drawings and hence that check is sorted by the machine into the group of checks going to the head oflice. That check isthen sent to the head ofllce of the Federal reserve bank-of New York along with the other checks in this group.

Upon receipt. the Federal reserve bank of New York (head oflice) takes those checks which are for banks in its areas and sorts them by scanning first row 9 row i in the drawings and then row 8 row 2:. in the drawings with the result that the check of Fig. 21 is separated into a group consistingonly of thosedrawn on the X" bank, which has the number 33. All of the latter checks are then sent by the Federal reserve bank of New York correspond to the 74th branch of the X bank.

The "X bank then sends such check "to that branch (No.74) and in this way the check finds its way to the branch bank on which it is drawn and payable. H

The spaces beyond rows 12 and 13 in Fig. 21

are available for further sortings, for example,-

the 74th branch may have certain depositors which issue large numbers of checks and it may be found practicable to use these spaces for sorting those checks for other purposes (dividend checks, etc.) in the same way that the abovementioned sortings have been carried out.

Suppose, however, that the Federal reserve The checkshown m Fig. 22 illustrates a Go vernment check. The first eight rows of dots from the top represent the eight-digit serial number of thecheck. The next row is available for higher numbers. The tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth rows correspond to the four digits in the four-digit number shown on the check. This number is the number given to the man who.

counter-signs the check. Rows 15, 16 and 1'! correspond with the three-digit number shown on the check, which number is assigned to the particular agency of the Government issuing the check. In sorting a large number of Government, checks the machine v would operate first on the three-digit number, in order to separate into their respective groups the checks drawn by the respective Government agencies. Then the machine would sort the checks in accordance with the-"four-digit number, so as to separate those checks into groups. each group corresponding to one counter-signing oflicial and finally the machine would sort the checks into groups within the eight-digit. number. In this last sorting, as in others, the checks would be run through first. for example, to separate them intothe groups having say, numbers between 10 and 20 million; between 20 and 30 million; between 30 and 40 million, etc. Then each of these ,groups would be similarly broken down, time after time, until' all of the checks could be arranged in order.

- The machine in general embodiment, are caused to progress from a magazine at the rear end of. the rearwardly-extending portion of the table, onto that rear portion and along the same until they reach the front section I of the table where they coact with a photoelectric means above the table to prepare the openings in the table through which the checks are finally propelled to be received into predetermined pockets in accordance with the particular markings on the particular checks. An extension 32 of table 30 may be used to support various shafts. Bears.

bank of Boston had decided to sort the check first into states so that it might be guided in that fashion in starting them on their journeys to the etc.

Just before a check is scanned by the photoelectric means, the check is oriented so that the certain predetermined areas on the successive checks which are at predetermined distances from the edges of the upper right-hand comers of the respective paying banks. The check shown in Fig. 21 is drawn on a bank in New York city. The

state of New York has the'number fifty. Hence, the'dots in .the top row, designated as a in the drawings. correspond to 5 and the dots in the next (second) row, designated 1: in the drawings.

correspondto 0. In this case then. the Boston bank sorts the check it receives by putting them all through the machine while scanning the top row of dots. This separates the checks into checks shall occupy the same predetermined posi- 1 tions relative to a predetermined point on the surface of the table and'hence with the photoelectric means thereabove. It is obvious that certain checks are not as large as others and that in passing along the table before the scanning operation certain of the checks might assume positions different from the positions of others of the checks. The four positions of the dots in each row on the checks are selected with reference to the upper right-hand corner of the checks and and in that position one are the same for all checks. independently of the size of the individual checks. This check-aligning mechanism assures that each of the four dotpositions in each row on each check shall be exactly the same with respect to the frame of the machine for each check as it starts to be scanned.

- which runs the several rollers which cause the movement of the checks before and while they are being scanned and projected into the several pockets.

Another shaft 44 is also driven through suitable gearing by shaft 40, and through further gears transmits power to speed-control box 46. The devices (shown in detail in Figs. 4-7) for separating the top check in the magazine 34 from the other checks therein are operated by power from speed-control box 46. Shaft 44 delivers power to another speed-control box 48, from which power is delivered to shaft ill. The latter delivers the energy to the check-aligning mechanism shown in Figs. 11-13.

Gearing 52 at the right end of the device receives its power from gearing 43 and operates the rollers describedbelow, which cause the checks to approach the scanning positions. Gearing 52 also supplies power to the speed-control box 54,

which operates the check-extractor mechanism shown in Figs. 8-10.

Check extractor At the top of the magazine 34 are positioned a pair of stops 56 as in Fig. 1 having their undersurfaces at substantially the height of the table Ill, The checks are moved upward in a pile as described hereinafter, until the top checks are arrested by the stops. Means are provided for removing the top check from the magazine and placing it flat upon table". These comprise a pair of pressure plates 58 and 60 which have flat surfaces seated on the upp r face of the top check. They are presseddown against the top check,

other horizontally, so that the top check is forced to assume a bent or humped position. Gripping means, described below, grip the hump of the check. Pressure plates 58 and 60 are lifted away from the check, releasing the latter. Then the gripping means pull the check off from the magazine and onto table III.

The parts next described and as especially. shown in Fig. 4' comprise the check-bending mechanism; A horizontal shaft 62, operated through gears from speed box 46, has a disk 4 on its end which acts as a crank for connecting rod 86. The other end of rod 88 has an axle OI therethrough parallel to shaft 82. A frame I. is positioned over shaft 62 and has two depending lugs at an end serving as supportfor the axle 82. At the other end is secured pressure plate I. Axle 68 is hung in two links 12 which depend rotatably from shaft 14. f The latter is parallel to and positioned higher thanshaft 82. and is carried by a link IS,- the other end of which is rotatable on and about shaft-62. An arm 18 fixed to frame rides on rod 88. This check-humping mechanism operates as follows: The rotation of shaft 62 causes the far end of rod 6 to reciprocate horizontally perpendicular to shaft 02 and to give a like movement to axle OI. Since the latter is suspended by rotatable links 12, the motion is is moved toward the a the periphery of element ment with grooved edges supported by rollers I20 asoa'zar actually a flat are about the axis of shaft 14 on which links 12 rotate. The horizontal motion of axle .8 causes shaft 14 to move in a flat are about shaft 62. This are having a small vertical component raises axle it slightly whereby the lugs on frame III which are on axle 68 are lifted slightly. This increases the weight with which plate Bl presses against the check. The horizontal motion of axle i8 is communicated to frame ll, plate 80 and hence to the check on which those plates press. Later, after the gripping means have grippedthe humped check, disk l4 raises arm ll, frame II and plate 60 so that the check is free to be removed by the gripping means. 7

The other pressure plate 58 pushes down on the check while plate 6! is bending it as in Fig. 1. Pitman link 80 is connected to the toothed disk II on shaft 62 and to the irregularly shaped element '2 which is rotatable on a shaft as in Figs. 5; 6, and '2. Element 26 is keyed to shaft 44 as is plate 58. Spring 88 connects elements 82 and ii. A knob on element 86 seats against 82 at certain times. The action of these elements is as follows: when element 22 is rotated clockwise, as seen in Fig. .5, spring 88 stretches, pulling element 86, shaft and plate 58 and causing them to rotate clockwise until stopped by plate 58 pressing against the check. Then link 8| rotates element 82 counter-clockwise, bringing the periphery of the latter against knob 90, moving it and element 86 together with shaft 84 and plate 58 counterclockwise. This raises plate 58 away from the check, leaving the check free to be removed.

The following parts comprise a mechanism for removing a bent check from the magazine. For clarity they are not shown in Fig. 1. Power is transferred from gearing 52 through shaft I'll, gear I02, certain gearing not shown, and gear I04 to gear I06 (see Figs. 8 and 9). The latter is connected by a crank "8 to an upright, hori. zontally-movable support II. at the side of table 30. The support has a floor piece 2 extending under table 30 to the mid-point of the letter.

A post II4 extends vertically from the floor H2 and carries gripping element I16 which lies level with the top of table 30 and in a slot iIB therein. The slot opens onto magazine 34. Post H4 carries, below the level of the table, a horizontal eleinto which fit rollers I20 which are supported beneath the table. The motion of crank Ill gives a unitary, horizontal reciprocation to the parts II9-II6 which are as well as roller I22 beneath piece II2.

Support II! carries a shaft I24 which extends over the table to the mid-point thereof and to which at said mid-point is attached a gripping element I26. Linkage I28, controlled by spring I30, connects crank [l8 and shaft I24 to give the latter an intermittent oscillation.

The parts are so geared and arranged that as support IIO approaches the magazine 3!, gripping element I I8 slides over the edge thereof and under a bent check and gripping element I26 at the same time is rotated by the motion of shaft I24 to grip the check between elements l I and I26. Since the rotation of shaft I24 is not constant, the check is continuously gripped while the gripping elements are pulled away from the magazine by support Hi. This brings the cheek onto table 30, and into the grasp of the pairs of rollers I32. The gripping elements thereupon release the check, the element I2! being moved 4 its other end positioned to ride on j isrotated bygearing l2. 1 The upper. rollers I40 receive motion at all- I a scavaa back to a position above the table. The rollers I82 are above and below the table top in pairs, those in each pair contacting each other at the level 'of'the surface of the table 80.' They are operated by shafts I84 from gearing 82. A speed-control disk I84 may be rotatable with idler shaft IIBonwhichgcar m isflxed. u

itentovslio '5 Boilers I "cause the check to move along the top of table 80 until it is caught between. rollers I88 keyed to shafts I88. It is thus passed successively along to and by rollers I40 keyed to Shafts I84, I88 and'l48 are rotated directly by gearing". Rollers I44 deliver the check to the aligning mechanism.

It is desirable that there be positive means for preventing a check from being brought tothe -a1ignerand scanner before-the previous check has removed from its position below the latter. Such means are shown in Figs; 1 and 3, and comprise the following elements whichraise the two rollers I40, which are above table 80; out of contact with the two rollers I40 which are'below table 80. Shaft-I42, to which are keyed rollers I40, is itself carried in a frame I48 on and oscillatable by a horizontal shaft 180. a Shaft no is supported in fixed position by a support I82. -A gear train I54 transmits motion from shaft I40 toshaft I42. An arm I88 keyed'to shaft I80 has cam I88 which times from gearing 82 via shaft I48 and gearing I84. Part of the time arm I88 is raised by cam I88. It then rotates shaft I50 and the frame I48. In this way the upper rollers I40 carried by frame I48 are raised to a position above table and during such part of the time they do not I contact any check and hence during that time no check is pushed forward to be aligned.

Aligning mechanism 2 Rollers I44 push each check onto the front section of table 80 to a position under the scanning apparatus. The checks are not all the same shape and are not accurately aligned.- It is necessary that the successive rows of dots on each check occupy .anexact predetermined position with respect to the scanner; The apparatus shown in Figs. 11-13 accomplishes this.

The irregularly shaped plate no, beneath table at a point where-the scanner is above the table, is reciprocable vertically whereby its vertically extending fingers I12 are raised through respective slots I14 in the surface of the table.

" Plate I10 is also reciprocable in one vdirection parallel to the table surface, whereby the fingers 1 move along the slots with the finger ends above the table. The latter by their motion bring any check which they contact into proper orientation. After this is brought about the plate sinks and its fingers disappear under the table. They are then not in the path of the oncoming check. 'As explained supra, the checks to be sorted are similarly marked. The fingers of the machine check is to assume and a flat horizontal surface leading thereto. I

The following mechanism gives the plate 'I 1.0

and fingers I12 their linear motion, which is at shafts I42 and rollers I44 keyed to shafts I46. 4

an angle with the edges of the finally aligned check, ,andttheir vertical motion. Power supply shaft-: is supported by bracket I82. A cam I84 on shaft 50 causes a cam follower L80 to reciprocate vertically. The latter isflxed to a hori-,

zontal guide rail I88 which is parallel to slots I14 and the linear motion of the mechanism and which has grooves in its side edges. Rollers I 89 amxed to the under side of plate I10 are movable along said grooves and are supported thereby and guided by rail I88. Thus a vertical mo-' tion of the oam follower is translated to the fingers I12. This motion is possible because of the 'fact that the rail I88 is swivelably attached by brackets I80'to arms I82 of bell cranks I84 supported from the table 80. A connecting rod I98 attached to disk-I88 on shaft 80 and to. an am 200 from plate I10 causes the-reciprocation of the latter horizontally. A cross piece 202 extending in the direction of the horizontal motion and between the other two arms of the bell cranks I94 assures a steady, continuous motion of plate I10. After a check is rou hly in position beneath the scanner the fingers I12 rise up through the slots and then move along the slots parallel to the .top of table 20. The check is caught by the fingers and moved into the de-.- sired alignment; the top edge of the check hearing against two of the-fingers and the right edge against one. The surfaces of the fingers against the check cease to push the check when the horizontal finger motion ceases. The fingers then sink below the table, leaving the check exactly in position. After it has been scanned it-is moved along to the'left and the table toppresents no obstruction to the next check coming on to be scanned.

If desired, there may be flat horizontal guide 204 spaced above the table 80. between which and the table the checks may slide while they are being manipulated by th fingers. It tends to prevent buckling of the check during that operation.

Delivery to pockets Attention being invited to'F gs- 16 and 17. it will be noted that means are provided for setting in motion again a check which has been scanned and for moving it along the front part of the table "so that it arrives at the first of the ten gates 2I0. It either enters that gate if it is-open. and asses down through an opening in table 80, or is pushed on until it reaches some ate which is open. The gates lead respectively to collecting pockets'2I2. The said means are rollers which are operated and timed by the suitably selected and arranged gearing 48.

Rollers 2I4' and 2I8 (Figs. 1 and 2) are brought a I down onto the check after it has been scanned shown in the drawings are positioned to align checks the indicia en which are located with respect to the upper right corner of the check. Two of the fingers have a vertical flat surface 1 I18 against which the upper edge of the check may bear and thereby be aligned and. horizon tal surface I18 leading to surface I16. A third The other end rides on cam 280 driven by gearing 43. The cam causes lever 228 and shaft 224 to finger has a vertical fiat surface I parallel to the direction which the right end edge of the closed.

rock, lilting and lowering rollers ill at predetermined times. V

A similar mechanism causes rollers 2N simultaneously to be lifted and lowered with respect to the table II.

' 2i deliver a check to rollers 23!. on shaftslfl. There is a succession of simihir rollers along the path of the check. Beyond each roller is an. opening in the table 30 with a gate 2M therein. when any gate is raised, it catches the oncoming check and directs it into 2. respective pocket 2E2. In each pocket there is a container 236 which may be removed so that the checks therein may be attended to and another container substituted. Depending upon the markings on the checks, a particular gate is opened by the electric circuits controlled by the scanner as described below. Should there be no markings on a check, no gate is opened and it is delivered by a final fixed gate into a catch-all pocket.

Scanning mechanism scanning mechanism (see Figs. l4 and 15) comprises a pair of li ht sources Ill focused upon theareatobeoccupiedbyoneof the rows on a check at the time of scanning. They are carried in aframe 382 which also carries a plurality of photoelectric cells I. There may be as many cellsastherearespacesinauowwnthecbeck and focusing means focus them respectively on the said spaces. The frame 302 is movable along iderailsnmortslltsoastob'ingthecells focus on successive rows. A knob ll! flxed tooneoftherailsmaybemovabletoturnascrew m, the motion of which latter moves the frame along the rails. An index lllilxed to a rail may pointtoascaleontheframetoshowon which row thecells arefocused.

Electrical ooanectimu fisshowninrlgjmthefonrrhotcelectrlcceik 3 are respectively supplied with potential from 1 All through transformers m. The four amplifying tubes ill are controlled res ectively bythephotocellcurrenisandoperaterespectlvelyswitches are make and others are break. These ar so arranged that for each possible combination of one or more activated repeater rea s there spring ll, positioned between chine. The electric connections is but on of the ten circ its closed. Hence,for

ea h combina ion of active hoto cells. 1. e., for each'combinationofdohthe elsbutasinale gateopered. l'or en rde. if the too and ottom relay in his so act t-gether, only the right lnnd circultofthetencireultsisclosedandon ythe lower again. Next rollers rlghthlndgatei cpened. 'lhe'leftpodt'mof 7 tbeswitch slli indi atesaswitchnormallyopen andtherlghtposltlcnlndicatcsaswitchnormallr pnshanyother checkunder the check reaches one whenever any relay It! is energized it closes one of the contacts in its repeater relay lit. Relay 4", however, is energizedonly while the check is under the photo cells but the gate 'must be kept open until the check has reached and passed through it. Hence, the other contact in the repeater relay is automatically closed by the closing of the one contact and stays closed until the r peater relay circuit is physically broken at switch ll l by the cam which operates swit hes 8.

Each of the gate-operating means lll is provided with its own make contact 8, in parallel with nine other make contacts 8 in a. circuit which isparallel with the repeater relay circuits and which contai s a counter 42! to count all the checks which eiiect the photo cells 3".

There is a counter "2 f r odd checks. Such checks pass between light 4" and photo cell 426 thereby shutting oi! the light from the cell. The latter is supplied with a circuit from the mains Ill. 'Hle cutting oil or the photoelectric current by such check causes the amplifier 428 to activate the coimter 422.

The relays ll! may be energized by the illumination of the photo-tubes with amplifier circuits as shown for amplifiers "-1; or the relays It may be energized by the darkening of the photo-tubes with amplifier circuits as shown'ior amplifier 428.

The check ma azine In Figs. 18 and 19 there is shown a preferred form of check ma azine 34. A horizontal platform "I is guided within the side walls 452 of the magazine by a roller link mechanism lil, which moves the platform parallel to itself. A the platform and the bottom of a well". gives a variable pressure on the platform. When the platform is in extreme top position, the spring exercises no pressure. Thesprlngischosentogiveareactlonat diilerent positions of the platform which is equal to the wei ht of the checks remaining on the latform at that pomtion. Hencethe top check is always held without upward pressure at the level of the top of the magazine, which level is at the height of the top of table ll.

m operation of the device r Aninnberofchecksmarkedinaccordancewith this invention are placed in the e. The photo cells in the scanner are focused along that lineoi the table over' which a particular row of dotswillbeinregistrywhilethecheckisbeing scanned. Themotorisstarted. Thispuisinmotion the several gear trains which run the meare made. The top check is bent by the'urpssure plates I8 and it. Elmnents ill and I" then grin thatche'k, pun it onto table II and retire. Rollers l3! seize it and pass it along to rollers I and thence to the canning position where fingers "I align it. Then the scanner ca s it. While the aligning and run ing has b'en t king place. rollers Mil have been raised so that they poeiively fa l to the scanner unt l the p eceding one has leit the scanner.

ill and Illarevowered ontothecheckandmoveitalongtothe gates one of'which hasbeen openedbytheecannerand which stays open is enough forotdhe check to succemlon rapidly and orderly from Tbentheychecks moving along saidtable deckand not so What we claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. A machine for sorting articles such as checks, and which articlesare oi diflerent dimensions and provided with identification areas such that their source of origin may be determined, said machine including a deck, intermittently operative elements to grip a flexed check between them, means for-reciprocating saidelements to bodily shift a grip d check: in a lateral direction over said deck, means for thereupon operating said element to release the gripped check, a series er continuously'operative rollers receiving a succession oi checks from said gripping elements.

'second'rollers receiving said checks from said diverted.

3. A machine for sorting articles such as checks, and which articles are of different dimensions and provided with identification areas such that their source of origin may bedetermined, said machine including a deck, intermittently operative elements to grip a flexed check between them, means for reciprocating said elements to bodily shift a gripped check in a lateral direction I over the deck, means for thereupon operating said element to release the gripp d check, a series of continuous operative rollers receiving a succession of checks from said gripping elements,

first-named rollers, means for periodically renderir'ig said second rollers inoperative toifeed a check'in a lateral direction over said deck, a third set of rollers receiving a check from said i 1 second rollers, fingers projectable above the plane -of the deck and movable with respect to the same, said fingers being arranged to engage a pair of adjacent check edges to align the same with reference to a predetermined area of the deck of said table, means for thereupon retractingsaid fingers below the plane or said deck, means reacting to the identification area of-the check when so positioned, a-fourth set of rollersopera:

tive intermittently to thereupon successively engage checks and to move the same along said deck, said deck'being'tormed with a plurality of opening pivotally mounted gates normally preventing-entrance or checks through said open- 'ings said gates being shiftable to positions to obstruct passage of checks along said table deck and diverting the same through said openings,

second rollers receiving said checks from said a first-named rollers, means for periodically rendering said second rollers inoperative to feed a check in a lateral direction over said deck, a third set of rollers receiving a check from said second and means controlled by said reacting means for operating said gates 2. A] machine for sorting articles such as checks, and which articles are of diilerent dimensions and provided with identification areas such that their source of origin may be determined,

said machine'including a deck, intermittently operative elements to grip a flexed check between them, means for reciprocating said elements to bodily shift a gripped check in a lateral direction over said deck, means for thereupon operating said element to release the gripped checkia series oi. continuously operative rollers receiving a succession of checks from said ripping elements,

second rollers receiving said checks from said.

first-named rollers, means for periodically renrollers, means reacting to the identification area of the check when so positioned, a fourth set of rollersoperative intermittently to thereupon sucand whioh articles are oi difierent dimensions and provided with identification areas such that their source of origin may be determined, said machine including a deck, a series of continuously operative rollers receiving a succession of checks, second rollers receiving said checks from said first-named rollers, means for periodically re'ndering. said second rollers inoperative to feed a check in a lateral direction .over said deck, a third 7 set of rollers receiving a check from said second.

rollers, fingers projectabie above the plane of the deck and movable with respect to the same, said fingers being arranged to engage a pair of adjacent check edges to align the same with reference to a predetermined area of the deck of said -table, means for thereupon retracting said fingers below the plane of said deck, means reacting to the identification area of the check when so positioned, a fourth set of rollers operative interdering saidsecond rollers inoperative to feed-a check in a lateral direction over said deck, a third set of rollers receiving a check from said second rollers, fingers projectable above the plane of the deck and movable-with respect to the same, said fingers being arranged to engage a pair of adjacent check edges to ali n the same f with reference. to a predetermined area oi! the deck of said table, means for'thereupon retracting said fingers below the plane of said deck, means reacting to the identification area of the check when so positioned, a fourth set of rollers operative intermittently to thereupon successively engage checks and to move the same along said deck, said deck being formed .with a plurality of openings, pivotally mounted gates normally preventing entrance of checks through said openings. said gates being shiftable to positions to obstruct passage 01' checks along said table deck and diverting the same through said openings, means controlled by said reacting means for operating mittentLv to thereupon successively engage checks and to move the same along said deck, said deck being formed with aplurality of openings, pivotally mounted gates normally preventing entrance of checks through said openings, said gates being shirtable to positions to obstruct passage of checks along said table deck and diverting the same through said-openings, and means controlled by said reacting means for operating said gates.

5. A machine for sorting articles such as checks, and which articles are of different dimensions and provided with identification areas such that their source of origin may be determined, said machine including. a deck, a series oi check-advancing means to shift successiv checks in a lateral direction over said deck and to deposit the same to assume substantially a position of rest upon the deck, fingers proiectable above the plane of the deck and movable with respectto the same, said fingers being arranged to engage a pair of adjacent' check edges to align the sam with reference to a predetermined area of the deck of said table, means for thereupon retracting said fingers said gates, and common receiving means for all below the plane of said deck, means reacting to the identification area of the check when so positioned, a further series of check-advancing means to cause said checks to be shifted along said deck, the latter being formed with a plurality of openings, pivotally mounted gates normally preventing entrance of checks through said openings, said gates being shiftable to positions to obstruct passage of checks along said table deck and divertin the sam through said openings, and means controlled by saidreacting means for operating said ates.

6. A machine for sorting articles such as checks, and which articles are of different dimensions and provided with identification areas such that their source of origin may be determined, said machine including a deck, a series of check-advancing means to shift successive checks in a lateral direction over said deck and to deposit the same to assume substantiallya position of rest upon the deck, fingers projectable above the plane of the deck and movable with respect to the same, said fingers being arranged to engage a pair of adjacent check edgesto align the same with refer-.

ence to a predetermined area of the deck of said table, means for thereupon retracting said fingers below the plane of said deck, means reacting to the identification area of the check when so positioned, a further series of check-advancing means to cause said checks to be shifted along said deck, the latter being formed with a plurality of openings, pivotally mounted gates normally preventing entrance of checks through said openings, said gates being shiftable to positions to obstruct passage of checks along said table deck and diverting the same through said openings, means controlled by said reacting means for operating said gates,

and means for causing certain of said checkadvancing means to operate continuously while other of said advancing means operate intermittently.

ROBERT HARRIS PHINNEY. NORVIN PERRY. 

